A MAN who had unlawful sex with a 15-year-old girl at various locations in Honiara in 2018 has been sentenced for nine years in prison.
The now 46-year-old man was pleaded guilty to nine counts of sexual intercourse with a child under-18 years.
The complainant or the victim was 15 years and seven months old at the time of the offence.
Judge Leonard Maina when delivering the sentence recently said what appears to raise an eye on the act and behaviour of the Defendant is that he is the cousin of the Complainant’s uncle.
“The starting point in the sentence of sexual offences of this nature, the Court of Appeal in the case of Pana versus Regina sets the starting point of eight years if the victim is below the consenting age,” he said.
“The case conventional or set the consideration in the starting point if the victim is of the consenting age.”
Justice Maina said, having noted that, the Defendant repeatedly or planned to do this acts or sex with the Complainant, it is serious and an abuse of truest.
He said as a relative, he should have the responsibility to look after the victim rather than abusing her on the numerous occasions.
Justice Maina also noted the reconciliation and payment of compensation.
The Defendant committed the offences on Complainant when he took out the Complainant in the car he was driving at various locations in Honiara and a beach at West Guadalcanal.
The period of time the Defendant spent in pre-trial custody was ordered to be deduced from the nine years jail term.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Newsroom
